Greetings Shippers welcome back and it’s time to tackle a blip of a ship in the MCU
with a dedicated bunch of shippers who managed to blossom in the oddest of times.
We're going to be taking a look at Iron Strange the pairing of Iron Man Tony Stark and Doctor
Strange.
This video was the winner of the monthly vote over on Patreon so thanks so much for supporting
and for voting you help keep us on track and get to ships that we may otherwise have taken
forever to get to.
Before we get started if you haven't already please be sure to follow on social media to
stay up to date know when we're streaming or just come on over and chit chat about fandom
it's a good time I swear.
So there's actually a fair bit to talk about so let's get started.
The MCU completely turned marvel shipping on it's head galvanising it creating unique
works that could be infused with comic canon or as time went on and the universe became
more fleshed out and established take place exclusively therein.
Rising to mainstream and cultural popularity at the same time as fandom culture was hitting
a newfound level of versatility, acceptance and creativity in the early 2010s mcu ships
and fandom were primed to have a lasting impact and many variations.
The MCU is one of those fandoms where if you can think it someone somewhere probably ships
it.
Now some of these ships rose partially off of comic book canon.
either because it was playing out in the film universe or it was simply transferring over.
And sometimes the two would intertwine.
In the case of Iron Strange it was a very MCU development which was fascinating in and
of itself.
Iron Man debuted back in 1963 In Tales of Suspense while Doctor Strange appeared that
same year in a different comic strange tales.
Now while these two characters have existed for equal amounts of time they haven't interacted
all that much.
Indeed pre Illuminatti that being the Civil War team formed by Tony to help safeguard
the world the two had barely exchanged a word.
However, something else was occurring that would lead to a now famous panel between the
two which would itself impact shipping.
Iron Man released in 2008 brought the character of Tony stark into the public consciousness
in a big way and also tied him together with Robert Downey who the majority feel was born
for the role.
However Tony's snarky, flippant oozing charming charisma was not exactly like his comic counterpart
in fact the mcu version was arguably much more personable if earlier along in the characters
development of course mileage varies.
However, the success of this film impacted how the character was portrayed in certain
comics.
Which during the Invincible Iron Man run which ran from 2015 to 2016 Iron Man has oft had
problems getting a long running series going in the modern era there was a moment between
him and doctor strange.
the awesome facial hair bros panel.
featuring a jovial tony and an exasperatedly put upon Doctor Strange and it became a moment
many fans wanted to see.
especially as it occurred roughly as Dr Strange was introduced into the universe
The Doctor Strange film starring Benedict Cumberbatch was released in 2016 a few months
after captain america civil war.
This placement would become important but firstly let us quickly meet the players in
their mcu forms for those are the ones in play.
many fans knew of so mcu cemented it want to see mcu interaction starting off with
tony stark.
Once a selfish playboy driven by suppressed trauma and a laissez fair attitude.
Tony found his life changed when he witnessed the consequences of his actions and experienced
his first betrayal.
Humbled he was set on a heroic path determined to make the world a safer place for everyone
and to atone for the times he had made it worse.
Brash, reckless and snarky Tony can love deeply and be deeply hurt.
He will often put others before himself and frequently ignores his own needs.
he can at times be blinded by his own insecurities which can lead to regrettable actions and
he can't stand to see people suffer.
His arrogance is tempered by an ability to deliver.
Next up Doctor strange once an arrogant and cold surgeon.
Strange was forcibly humbled when an accident destroyed his hands and hence his ability
to work.
Forced to examine himself he found himself wanting and rose to the challenge of learning
an art that contradicted all his past beliefs.
Still smug and arrogant Strange takes his responsibilities quite seriously and strives
to learn always and keep the universe safe.
He has a quick wit and the capacity to withstand great torment but some have a hard time putting
up with him and it takes a bit to get to his real feelings.
Yet at times he can form fast as meaningful connections as he appears to with Tony Stark.
Now these two's ship actually began before their canonical meeting in infinity war.
And instead was started by Civil War which for some broke Stony and is a film that remains
contentious to this day in many fans minds not only because of the outcome but for how
it divided the fandom for a time fiercely into team tony or team cap camps.
For some they never left those teams.
For many on the side of team iron man they felt that tony just needed to get away from
the rogue avengers and that Steve pretty much tried to murder him and it was time for a
new sqaud.
This when rapidly followed by the introduction of Doctor Strange the facial hair bros panel
and the general mcu environment of exploring any and all pairings meant certain shippers
were off to the races.
Some were drawn to their surface similarities and wanted to see a snark off.
Protective strange and cloak were big tags at the time.
Others felt these two would be able to get under each others defenses and really share
their core selves and that having both been betrayed by important people in their lives
they wouldn't take a relationship lightly and of course others went for pure hooking
up smut some of it channelling an attractions to both actors in their roles.
Those who really liked to think outside the box they imagined a world where these two
had met before hand during their extreme jerk phases and could be meeting again on new terms
as new people
For a small few there was some Sherlock on Sherlock transference going on but that was
a subset.
Excitement for this pairing grew when set photos revealed the two would be sharing scenes
in infinity war and that it did appear that tony had a new squad largely consisting of
who fans thought it would.
It was fuel for some a reaffirmation for others and a gateway for a few
However, where shippers really got on Board was Infinity War which was quite impressive
given that film's conclusion.
This film gave fans the interactions they had been curious about and for some had been
waiting for.
And it was quite snarky as people imagined but for many to an extent that it felt like
flirting it was also very close almost like jumping to the level of having known each
other for years not just a few minutes.
And of course there was the wink (clip) why did he wink at him.
The two spend the rest of the film grouped together attempt to save each other and display
a soft closeness and trust that felt far firmer than the time the two had spent together would
suggest even with the extenuating circumstances.
The film's cliffhanger conclusion meant that iron strange shippers were in a unique position.
They had just been given a movie rife with shippable moments and characters who had the
potential for an interesting relationship but also were smack dab in the middle of canon
angst and implausibility.
so they did what fans do best they fixed it.
Some did so by skipping over infinity war to a world where the threat was dealt with
others went for a what infinity standpoint.
While still more just focused on the stories they wanted to tell.
There was focus on doctor strange's hands his insecurity about them and his scars and
tony understanding.
there was strange showing tony his worth.
There were spells gone awry, missions gone wrong, plenty of friends to lovers and fics
where everyone knows they like each other but them.
Demon possessions straight up demon tony hanahaki and so much more.
for a small ship in the mcu it produced a great variety of works and some passionate
shippers.
It also spawned a new headcanon the supreme family or strangefamily or superfamily 2.0
that being taking the concept of the superfamily that being that steve and tony are peter Parker's
parents adopted or otherwise and applied it to tony and steven strange.
Though with the bonus of the paternal relationship peter and
tony share canonically.
Some added in a divorced metaphorically or literally steve element.
This new familial unit was one some fans became quite fond of.
Another fan favourite was strange falling for tony after looking at all the possible
futures and seeing how self sacrificing he was.
Indeed part of the appeal of iron strange for some was that it felt more manageable
than the rest of the mcu transformative fandom works which could be large and interconnected
and it could be hard to find pieces that focused on only one pairing or a few characters something
much more common in Iron strange.
For some they just felt these two characters had chemistry and could complement each other
intellectually and emotionally and that they both deserved some happiness and could find
it together.
Also that it is small people shipping it are well aware it won't be canon and hence are
not angling for it and almost no one talks about it in any real mainstream sense which
for some shippers make it an ideal safe haven and a comfort ship.
Now of course like any pairing not everyone was on board for these two so why not.
Well some felt they were too similar that their relationship would be toxic and that
they are too emotionally immature to confront any potential issues they could have in a
healthy fashion as both have been shown to not have the best coping mechanisms.
For some it stemmed from a distaste for just one of the characters or an indifference and
preference for different characters or of course ships.
Tony was/is a huge bicycle in the mcu and most who enjoy pairing the character have
their favourite pairing which may not be ironstange though there are as ever multi shippers.
For some this was an example of shipping goggles. or they just didn't think about it too hard
too invested in other plot points or ships.
Still iron strange is still in a unique position thanks to avengers endgame.
spoilers now come spoilers unless you're from the future wibbley wobbley timey wimey.
Endgame continues the closeness but also kills one of the characters so again places the
pairing in a position of not having canon as a foothold
however since the ship started off that way it will continue on that way though for some
this may calm their zeal others will and are living in the realm of the fix it working
towards new stories or getting these two a happy ending.
are you iron strange shippers if so when did you jump on board.
is your ship still sailing past endgame.
I recently at the time of this recording read a great possession iron strange fic ah next
fic rec Friday.
As always you know the drill answer as many as possible numbered if you can I love a good
essay comment.
Thanks as always...